Nizar Saghieh about the Rola Yaakoob affair: Incomplete investigation and ignored witness accounts

Lawyer Nizar Saghieh commented on the outcome of the Rola Yaakoob affair following the ruling of judge Alaa Al-Khatib, ordering the release of her husband on the ground that the post mortem forensic examination did not prove that Rola died as a result of his beating.  In his article posted on the Legal Agenda website, Saghieh noted that the text of the judge verdict seems to imply that there is no evidence of guilt as the text only validates proof of innocence and undermines any proof of guilt.

As Safir and Al Akhbar newspapers highlighted for their part several narratives by witnesses whose testimonials were recorded at the police station in Halba and which were not referred to in the judicial decision which freed Yaakoub’s husband from any guilt or responsibility.  As Safir further noted that the Public Prosecution in the North did not even call these witnesses to testify and these were not heard again.  According to the newspaper, a significant number of testimonials were notarized at the public notary in the North whilst awaiting their usage in court by the victims’ family lawyer Raymond Yaakoub.  The lawyer told As Safir that until yesterday, he has not been notified yet of the decision of the court of appeals.  
Meanwhile, the media refers to several narratives and testimonials by the daughters of the victim and her neighbor who spoke of the fighting they heard and which Yaakoob’s husband refuted.  Al Akhbar also spoke of material evidence found in the victim’s house and which were not used in the investigation.

It should also be noted that the higher judicial council also took part, in an unprecedented way, in the public discussions around the Rola Yaakoob’s affair through a statement released by its media office and whereby it supports the decisions of the judges and warns the media not to critique the judges or their decision.  Saghieh interprets this as an attempt by the Council to obstruct the work of the media, without even providing any evidence of wrongdoing by the media.
Source: Al-Safir, Al-Akhbar 11 February 2014